With Hereford set to play Telford tomorrow BN looks back to September 2003 and a late winner from Ryan Green when the two teams met at Edgar Street.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
In the third and final minute of injury time, a chip into the box from United's midfielder Jamie Pitman was volleyed home by Ryan Green, who had run the length of the pitch to get into the postion.
Bulls' boss Graham Turner changed his starting eleven for the first time this season as David Brown replaced Rob Purdie upfront, whilst Richard Teesdale was handed a start in place of the injured Andy Tretton in the centre of defence.
The game started evenly with both sides creating chances. John Grant struck over the bar in the second minute for Telford after Scott Ricketts played a pass through the defence. However, it was Hereford who netted first. Good, flowing passing in the midfield led to Paul Parry being sent down the left wing. Parry took the ball past ex-Bulls right back, Matt Clarke, and crossed superbly for Steve Guinan to hit a powerful header into the top corner from ten yards out.
The goal seemed to give a boost to Hereford as they started to control the game. Several opportunities arose before half time with Danny Williams and David Brown both going close from within the six-yard box. At the other end Grant won the ball in the air from Green, squared the ball to Ricketts who hit a shot into the side netting.
The second half was scrappy to start, with neither team being able to gain possesion for long periods. There were many hard challenges in the midfield. Both Scott Eustace of Telford and David Brown were booked for reckless tackles. Brown's booking was followed by him being substituted for Danny Carey-Bertram.
On eight-two minutes Telford equalised. A blocked shot from Fitzroy Simpson was met by Lee Mills, who headed the ball over the advancing Matt Baker, and into an empty net.
Telford almost grabbed a winner in the eighty-nineth minute when Trevor Challis blazed a shot over the bar from the edge of Baker's area.
It was in the final minute of the game when Hereford hit Telford on the counter attack to grab a dramatic winner, which sent the vast majority of the crowd of 4190 home delighted.
| Hereford United | Telford United |
| Matt Baker | Chris MacKenzie |
| Ryan Green | Matt Clarke |
| Michael Rose | Scott Eustace |
| Jamie Pitman | Neil Howarth |
| Richard Teesdale | Stuart Whitehead |
| Tony James (captain) | Sam Ricketts |
| Danny Williams | Richard Lavery |
| Ben Smith | Fitzroy Simpson |
| Steve Guinan | Lee Mills |
| David Brown (off, 79 minutes) | Trevor Challis |
| Paul Parry | John Grant |
| Subs | Subs |
| Jordan King | Lee Williams |
| Ben Scott | Martin Taylor |
| Daniel Carey-Bertram (on, 79 minutes) | Justin Rowe |
| Danny Moon | Michael Blackwood |
| Dean Craven | Colin Murphy |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| David Brown (unsporting behaviour, 73 minutes) | Scott Eustace (unsporting behaviour, 64 minutes) |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Steve Guinan (6 minutes) | Lee Mills (83 minutes) |
| Ryan Green (90 minutes) | - |
| - | - |
| Man of the Match | Jamie Pitman |
| Attendance | 4190 |
| Referee | Mr. R. Desmond (Swindon) |
Moaning Mick berates Ref
Mick
Jones, the Telford manager, was unhappy after last night's game at
Edgar Street. He told BBC Shropshire that after Lee Mills had equalised
Telford should have won.
"That will be the hardest game Hereford will have all this season"
he said. "If they have as much luck over the rest of the season, they
will win the championship by March.
He thought Telford had given everything to the game and was critical
of not getting a penalty: " To get a penalty I think Telford have got
to shoot somebody with a double-barrel shotgun".
He thought they should have had a couple of shouts in the second
half. " It's a disgrace, disgrace. Had it been in our box it would have
been a penalty."
It is assumed he was referring to one incident when John Grant and Michael Rose collided in the box.
Later in the interview he praised the Hereford team: "The Hereford lads believe they can win games and all credit to them.
Meanwhile Graham Turner told the Nationwide site:"I thought we
played ever so well in the first half but we needed a second goal and
then Telford really caused us problems as we ran out of steam," said
Hereford boss Graham Turner. "But it was great entertainment for another
marvellous crowd for the full 93 minutes."
And speaking to the Shropshire Star the manager said about Telford:
"When you bring in so many new players like that, it is always
difficult to know whether they will settle in straight away. But they
have a lot of experience and strength and caused us some problems. I
think they will be up there come the end of the season."
Ryan Green, whose great goal gave the Bulls the win they deserved,
commented: " I was a bit gutted in the last ten minutes when they
equalised but we came through in the end.